Filament coil feeder



Oct. 16, 1951 c, JONES 2,571,579

FILAMEN'I COIL FEEDER Filed April 18, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR WITNESSES: (Mama-w fl/B SUPPLY f7 (7. CYfO/VES W M ,r lgafi W 6/ ATTORNEY Oct. 16, 1953 A. c. JONES FILAMENT COIL FEEDER s sheets-sheet 2 Filed April 18, 1949 INVENTOR H. C. JONES.

WITNESSES:

ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 16, 1951 FILAME-NT COIL FEEDER Alonzo C. Jones, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, as-

signor to Canadian Westinghouse Company, Limited, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada Application April 18, 1949, Serial No. 88,153

8 Claims.

This invention relates to placing filament coils,

. as in the manufacture of incandescent electric lamps, one by one in the consecutive notches of a feeding drum, from whence they are to be picked up and fastened to the supports of a mount.

The principal object of my invention, generally considered, is to provide a mechanical device mounted directly adjacent a coil-feeder drum for placing a single coil in each consecutive notch of said drum as it is indexed upon step-by-step rotation.

Another object of my invention is to provide a machine for feeding filament coils one by one, as from a hopper thereof to a notched simultaneously-indexed coil feeding drum, comprising a vacuum finger which picks up a coil, a spring operated stripper member associated therewith to prevent pick-up of more than one coil, a guide on which said coil is deposited, and a gate at the end of said guide for stopping and aligning said coil with a notch of a feed drum indexed directly therebeneath, which gate, upon a return of said finger to pick up the next coil, is opened and said coil dropped in said notch.

A further object of my invention is to provide a method of placing filament coils one by one in consecutive notches of a feeding drum for a mounting machine, comprising picking up a single coil from a hopper by vacuum, while releasing a previously picked-up coil to drop'into a notch of said feeding drum, depositing it on a guide leading to said drum, while indexing said drum for the subsequent reception of said coil, stopping said coil at the end of said guide to allow it to be aligned with the indexed drum notch therebeneath, then while picking up the next coil, releasing it to drop in said notch, repeating the operation.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the description proceeds.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary elevational view, partly in vertical section, of apparatus embodying my invention, the vacuum pick-up finger being shown in position immediately after leaving a coil on the guide behind the feed gate and over an indexed slot in the feed drum.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary plan of the apparatus shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view on the line IIIIII of Figure 2, in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view on the line IVIV of Figure 2, in the direction of the arrows, but showing the feed gate open and the vacuum pick-up finger in a position returned for picking up another coil.

Figure 5 is a detailed axial sectional view of one form of vacuum finger and stripper in coil pick-up position.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary elevational view of the finger, on the line VI-VI of Figure 5, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 7 is a view corresponding to Figure 6, but showing another form of finger.

Figure 8 is a chart showing the relative positions of the parts at the difierent phases of a cycle.

When feeding filament coils at a rate as high as 1400 per hour, it has proven very difiicult for an operator to pick up a coil with a pair of tweezers and place the same in a slot of a filament coil feeding drum, without missing some of the slots, and without improper placement of the coils. I have, therefore, devised a machine which can be mounted adjacent such a feeding drum, and which mechanically picks up filament coils one by one and accurately places them in consecutive notches of said drum.

Referring to the drawing in detail, like parts being designated by like reference characters, and first considering the embodimentof my invention illustrated in Figures 1 to 6, inclusive, there is shown a hopper H having side walls l2 placed an adjusted distance apart, corresponding with the length of the filament coils l3, a quantity of which are shown deposited therein. Adjustment of the side walls may be effected by connecting them to the hopper bottom wall In by screws 20 threaded thereinto, and received in slots 30 in said bottom wall. In order to keep the filament coils straight and disposed perpendicular to the longitudinal center line of the hopper, a block M is disposed behind said coils, and may be manually advanced as desired in the direction of the arrow Hi.

The end of the hopper toward the coil feeding drum l6, mounted for clockwise rotation on shaft 35 and provided with coil-receiving notches ll, has a wall [8 preferably sloping as indicated and formed with a slot l9. In this slot moves a vacuum pick-up finger 2|, mounted on hollow shaft 22, which is in turn pivoted in base or bearing block 23, supported on brackets 40. There is also provided a stripper element 24 pivoted about a fixed shaft 25 and urged into engagement with the vacuum finger 2|, when the latter engages it, as in Figure 4, by means of a coil spring 26 disposed between said stripper and an abutment 21 on the shaft 25.

Bridging the distance between the hopper ll.

and the drum I6, are desirably curved guide members 28, forming a guide on which the coils are deposited one by one, and down which they slide toward the drum It. The guide members 28 are spaced to leave a slot 29 therebetween, as a continuation of the slot l9, and in which the finger 2 ltmoves. The upper surface of said guide which supports each coil is such that it lies below the filament-receiving notch 3| in the finger, until after said finger has reversed so that the notch opens upwardly, whereupon the guide is such that the coil is lifted out of said notch, and from there slides to the end of. said guide where it is stopped by a feed gate 32 pivoted at 33 and carrying an operating arm 34.

In order to insure that the pick-up arm 2| exerts the desired action on the coils l3, it is cored hollow, as indicated at 36, to the slot 3|, which is of the proper size for picking up a single coil. That is, the slot 3| is of a width and depth corresponding with the coil diameter plus a tolerance of about .004". The hollow portion of the pick-up arm 2| is connected to a vacuum line 3'! by an opening from said hollow'portion 36, through the hollow center 38-of the shaft 22, and through a slot 39 which when said shaft is in picking-up position is turnedto register with a port 4| in the bearing block or base portion 23, with which the vacuum line 31 directly communicates.

In order to insure that the pick-up arm 2| is cleaned of any dust or debris after each pick-up action. on. a. coil, acompressed air line is also desirably connected to the hollow center 38 of the through said line 42, through the hollow center, i

38 of the. shaft 22, on through the hollow 36' inthe finger 2|, and out through the slot 3| in-said finger, to-thereby insure that it is cleaned prior to picking up another coil.

The means'for turning the shaft 22 and swinging the attached finger 21, in the present embodiment involves a gear wheel 43- fixed on the shaft 22 and engaged by a rack 44. The latter is slidably guided in an extension 45 from the bearing block 23,. and reciprocated through aconnecting rod 46, one end of which ispivoted thereto asat 41 and the other end of which is pivoted to an arm 48 of a bell crank lever 49, as indicated at 5|. The bell crank lever is in turnv pivotally mounted on a' fixed bracket 52, as indicated at 53, and has another arm 54 desirably carrying a roller 55, pivoted thereto as at 56, and urged, as by gravity or spring means, into operative. engagement with a cam 5! turned by a drive shaft 58.

The arm 54 of the bell cranklever 48 carries an. adjustable element, such as a stud 59, threaded into an' angular extension 6 I, and held in desired position by'means of lock nuts'62'. The stud 59; after proper adjustment, at the appropriate times engages valve 43' for connecting the compressed air supply to' the-hollowshaft 22. The feedgate 32 is opened at the proper times to allow a filament coil therebehind to drop into an indexed notch ll" in the feed drum l8 therebeneath,,by cam 53 fixed on shaft 22, and engagingthe operating arm 34.

In order to insure'that the'notches IT in the drum I6 are synchronously indexed beneath the end of the guide 286 at the proper times forthe: reception: of coils;therefrom', said drumis driven step-by-step from the same shaft 58 from which the rack 44 is driven, as by means of another cam 54 on said shaft and engaging a roller 65 pivoted, as indicated at 66, to an arm 61, urged into engagement with said cam by gravity or spring means. The arm 61 is part of a bell crank lever 68 pivoted on'. the shaft 35' ofthe drum l6, and carrying a pawl 69 on its other arm 1|. The pawl 69 is pivoted to said arm II as indicated at 72, and urged by spring 13 into operative engagement with a ratchet wheel 14 secured to the drum l8 and movable therewith about the shaft 35. Means, such as a ratchet-engaging pawl 15, pivoted to a fixed part of the apparatus, is provided to prevent undesired rotation of the drum I6.

Referring now to the embodiment of my invention: illustrated in Figure '7, there is shown another design 2| of a pick-up finger, which is formed hollow as'indicated at 36", and generally like the finger 2|; but instead of terminating in asingle aperture 16 to the pick-up slot 3|, as in Figures 581M176, is formed with two apertures 16 which thereby hold a coil in said slot at two points rather than one point.

The mode ofoperation of the aforedescribed apparatus is normally as follows, reference being had to Figure 8': A quantity of coils l3 are placed in the hopper. II and" backed up by the block l4 so that they lie transverse of saidhappen without being tangled. The machine, on start?- ing, causes the finger 2| or 2|, as the case-may be, to move counterclockwise throughthe slots 29- and I9, finally engaging the stripper member 24: which slides thereover and ismoved thereby, from the position of Figure 3 to that of Figure 4 This means that after the, reception of a single. coilin the notch-3km: 3| as'the case may be. any other coils are-brushed off by; the stripper element 24,,before the finger advances'out oi the. hopperllfrom the positionof Figure 4towa-1zd that of Figure 3.

When in the position of Figure 4, it is, con,- nected to the vacuum' line 3'1'thr0ugh the'portll, slot 39, hollow 38 in the shaft 22-, and hollow 36 inthe finger itself, thereby insuring. that suflicient suction is applied to hold a coil in the pick-up notch until, by movement of the rack- 44 upon appropriate turning of the cam' 51-, thercoil is moved to a position abovethe guide 28. As thefinger 2| or 2| passes-below the top outline at said guide to the position of Figure 3, the coilis deposited thereon and slides therealong to the position indicated in Figure 3; Here it is stopped. by the feed gate 32, then in closed position by virtue ofthe cam- 6'3'not being in position to pushon the arm 34- and open said gate. After release of the coil, the valve 43 is opened by the element 59 and the pick-up finger blown out: by: compressed air.

Further turning of the cam 63, however, on return of' the pick-up finger, causes its high dwell 18' to engage saidarm 34- andopen the gate 32-, holding it in the position of Figure 4-, while the finger picks uptheinex't coil, as shown-in said-fig ure. Whereupon the coil behind the gatev 32 isdropped into the slot indexed therebeneath. This'indexing Waseffected between the coil pickup operation and the release of the coil on the guidefilfi, by -correspondingmovementofthe'drum, onetoothiof' theratchet- T4 of which corresponds in angular distance with one notch ofthe drum It, by simultaneous turning of the cam 64' on the shafti 58; The operation' continues with the-moving of the pickedz-up coil over the guide 28, the" dropping of it on said guide behind the gate 32, and the eventual release of said gate u on the return of the finger for still anothercoil.

Although a preferred embodiment of my invention has been disclosed, it will be understood that modifications may be made within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. I I

T claim:

1. A machine for moving coils from a quantity thereof and placing them one by one in consecutive indexed notches of" an indexing notched feeding drum, comprising a guide above the drum and bridging the space between it and said coils, a vacuum pick-up finger with a notch just the right size for the reception of only one coil, a bearing block, a vacuum connection to said block, a hollow shaft'pivoted in said block, formed with a slot connecting its interior with said vacuum connection when said shaft isincertain angularposjitions in said block, a gear-wheel fixed on said shaft, and means for oscillating said gear wheel to cause said finger to engage said coils, pick up one therefrom, and deposit it on said guide to allow it to drop into an indexed notch in the feeding drum therebeneath.

2. A machine for moving coils from a quantity thereof and placing them one by one in consecutive indexed notches of a feeding drum, comprising a guide bridging the space between said coils and said drum therebeneath, a vacuum pickup finger with a notch just the right sizefor the reception of only one coil, whereby said finger may pick up a coil and move it to said guide'for transfer to said drum, a slidably mounted member for oscillating said finger, a bellcrank lever pivoted beneath said guide, one arm of said lever being operatively connected to said member for reciprocating the same, a drive shaft adjacent said lever, and a cam on said shaft engaging the other arm of said lever for effecting oscillation thereof.

3. A machine for moving coils from a quantity thereof and placing them one by one in consecutive indexed notches of a feeding drum, comprising a guide bridging the space between said coils and said drum therebeneath, a vacuum pickup finger with a notch just the right size for the reception of only one coil, a bearing block, a vacuum connection to said block, a hollow shaft for completing the vacuum connection to said finger and on which said finger is mounted, means for oscillating said finger through said shaft, a compressed-air connection through said hollow shaft to said finger, a valve in the compressed air line, and an adjustable element carried by the means operating said finger for opening and closing said valve at the proper times in synchronism with the finger movement.

4. Apparatus for feeding coils from a quantity thereof and placing them one by one in consecutive indexed notches of a feeding drum, comprising a guide bridging the space between said coils and said drum therebeneath, a vacuum pick-up finger with a notch just the right size for the reception of only one coil, a bearing block, a vacuum connection to said block, a hollow shaft pivoted in said block for completing the vacuum connection with said finger, means for oscillating said finger between pickup and releases positions, a feed gate pivoted so as to normally close the end of the guide and hold a coil deposited on said guide, an arm carried by said gate, and a cam on said hollow shaft engageable with said arm so as to open said gate at the proper times and release a coil 6 from said guide, for placing it in an indexed notch in said feeding drum.-

5. Apparatus for feeding coils one by 'one for mounting, comprising a hopper in which a quantity of said' coils are deposited,- a shaft, a notched feeding drum mounted on said shaft, a curved guide extending from'the adjacentend of said hopper to said drum, and means for -mov ing coils from said hopper and placing] them one by one in consecutive indexed notches in said drum, comprising a hollow vacuum pick-up finger with a notch just the right size for-the reception of onlyone -'coil, 'a bearing block, a vacuum connectionto-said block, a hollow shaft pivoted'insaid block,formed with a-slot con. necting its interior with said vacuum connection when said shaft is in" certain angular positions in said block, said shaftcarryingan'd'commuui catingwith said finger, a gear wheel fixed in said shaft, a slidable rack meshing withjsaid wheel, means beneath said guide for i'eciprocating said 'rack,*a drive shaft adjacent said means, a cam on said driveshaft engaging" said operating mea'ns and reciprocating s'aidrack at the proper times, means movable over said finger'to remove any coil not in said notch, another cam on said shaft, a bellcrank lever pivoted on the drum shaft, one arm of said lever being engaged by said other cam and the other arm of said lever carrying a spring-actuated pawl, said drum carrying a ratchet engaged by said pawl, a connection to said hollow shaft for supplying compressed air to said finger, a valve in the compressed air connection, and means for opening and closing said valve at the proper times in synchronism with movement of said finger.

6. Apparatus for feeding coils one by one for mounting, comprising a hopper in which a quantity of said coils are deposited, a shaft, a notched feeding drum mounted on said shaft, a curved guide extending from the adjacent end of said hopper to near said drum, and means for moving coils from said hopper and placing them one by one in consecutive indexed notches in said drum, comprising a hollow vacuum pick-up finger with a vacuum-communicating notch just the right size for the reception of only one coil, a bearing block, vacuum connection to said block, a hollow shaft pivoted in said block, formed with a slot connecting its interior with said vacuum connection when said shaft is in certain angular positions in said block, disposed beneath said guide and carrying said finger, a gear wheel fixed on said shaft, a slidably-mounted rack meshing with said wheel, a bell-crank lever pivoted beneath said guide, one arm of said lever being operatively connected to said rack for reciproeating the same, a drive shaft adjacent said lever, a cam on said drive shaft engaging the other arm of said lever for reciprocating said rack at the proper times, a spring-actuated stripper slidably movable over said finger to remove any coil not in said notch, another cam on said shaft, a second bell crank lever pivoted on the drum shaft, one arm of said second lever being engaged by said other cam, the other arm of said second lever carrying a spring actuated pawl, said drum carrying a ratchet engaged by said pawl, a compressed air connection to said hollow shaft for supplying air to said finger, said shaft communicating with said hollow finger, a valve in the compressed air line, an adjustable element carried by the first mentioned lever for opening and closing said valve at the proper times in synchronism with the movement of; finger, afeedgate piyoted'so asto nor-- mally close the end of;,, and hold a coil when deon, said guide, an arm carried, by said gate, and a; cam: on the hollow shattengageable with: said arm, so as to open said gate at. the proper times and release a coil. from said guide forplacing; it an indexed notch in said. feed 7. Apparatus for transferring coils from a quantity thereot and placing them one by onein consecutive indexed notches of a feeding drum, comprising, an inclined guide bridging the space between saidcoils and-said drum, means for picking up one coil at a time andplacing it on said a feed gate pivoted so as tonormallyclose the end of the guide and hold acoil, deposited thereon, an arm carriedby said gate, and v ace-m engageable with said so 8.53170 open saidgate at synchronized with the movement: of, said. drum, for placing a coil: in: an indexed; notch or saiddrum., I

8.. Apparatus for feeding. coiis one by one from a, hopper thereofto, a notched feeding drum, comprising an inclined guide extending, from the adjacent end of. said hopper tosaid drum,

a shaft on which said drum is mounted, means for moving coils one by one from said. hopper and placing them on. said guide, comprising a drive shaft, a cam on said drive shaft engaging operating. means for said coil-moving means, another cam on said drive shaft, abell-crank lever pivoted on the drum-mounting shaft.. one arm of said lever being engaged by said other cam, the other arm of said lever carrying a spring-activated pawl, and said drum carrying a ratchet engaged by said pawl.

ALONZO C, JONES.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,821,894 Otake Sept. 1, 1931 1,929,294 Poel Oct, 3, 1933 2,059,546 Brandenburg Nov. 3, 1936 2,089,055 Flaws Aug. 3, 1937- 2,280,573 Flaws Apr. 21,1942 

